Adhyaya 20

Verse 1

हरिरुवाच । तपसानेन पुण्येन सत्येनानेन ते द्विज । स्तोत्रेण पावनेनापि तुष्टोस्मि व्रियतां वरः

Hari said: “O brāhmaṇa, by this meritorious austerity of yours, by this truthfulness, and also by this purifying hymn, I am pleased. Choose a boon.”

Verse 2

वरं दद्मि महाभाग यत्ते मनसि वर्तते । यंयमिच्छसि कामं त्वं तंतं ते पूरयाम्यहम्

O greatly fortunate one, I grant you a boon—whatever is in your mind. Whatever desire you wish for, that very desire I shall fulfill for you.

Verse 3

सोमशर्मोवाच । प्रथमं देहि मे कृष्ण वरमेकं सुवाञ्छितम् । सुप्रसन्नेन मनसा यद्यस्ति सुदया मम

Somaśarmā said: “First, O Kṛṣṇa, grant me one boon that I greatly desire—if you are gracious to me, with a mind fully pleased.”

Verse 4

जन्मजन्मांतरं प्राप्य तव भक्तिं करोम्यहम् । दर्शयस्व परं स्थानमचलं मोक्षदायकम्

After passing through birth after birth, I now practice devotion to you. Show me the supreme, unmoving abode that bestows liberation.

Verse 5

स्ववंशतारकं पुत्रं दिव्यलक्षणसंयुतम् । विष्णुभक्तिपरं नित्यं मम वंशप्रधारकम्

A son who will redeem my lineage, endowed with divine marks—ever devoted to Viṣṇu, and the one who will carry forward my family line.

Verse 6

सर्वज्ञं सर्वदं दांतं तपस्तेजः समन्वितम् । देवब्राह्मणलोकानां पालकं पूजकं सदा

All-knowing, bestower of all, self-restrained, endowed with the radiance born of tapas—ever the protector and worshipper of the communities of devas and brāhmaṇas.

Verse 7

देवमित्रं पुण्यभावं दातारं ज्ञानपंडितम् । देहि मे ईदृशं पुत्रं दारिद्रं हर केशव

O Hara, O Keśava—grant me such a son: a friend of the virtuous, of holy disposition, generous, and learned in true knowledge, so that poverty may be destroyed.

Verse 8

भवत्वेवं न संदेहो वरमेनं वृणोम्यहम् । हरिरुवाच । एवमस्तु द्विजश्रेष्ठ भविष्यति न संशयः

“So be it—there is no doubt. This boon I choose.” Hari said, “Let it be so, O best of the twice-born; it shall come to pass—there is no uncertainty.”

Verse 9

मत्प्रसादात्सुपुत्रस्तु तव वंश प्रतारकः । भोक्ष्यसि त्वं वरान्भोगान्दिव्यांश्च मानुषानिह

By my grace you shall have a noble son who will carry your lineage onward; and here in this world you will enjoy excellent delights—both divine and human.

Verse 10

समालोक्य परं सौख्यं पुत्रसंभवजं शुभम् । यावज्जीवसि विप्र त्वं तावद्दुःखं न पश्यसि

Beholding the supreme, auspicious happiness that arises from the birth of a son, O brāhmaṇa—so long as you live, you will not behold sorrow.

Verse 11

दाता भोक्ता गुणग्राही भविष्यसि न संशयः । सुतीर्थे मरणं चापि यास्यसि त्वं परां गतिम्

Without doubt, you shall become a generous giver, a rightful enjoyer of the fruits, and a discerning appreciator of virtue; and even by dying at a holy tīrtha, you will attain the supreme state.

Verse 12

एवं वरं हरिर्दत्त्वा सप्रियाय द्विजाय सः । अंतर्धानं गतो देवः स्वप्नवत्परिदृश्यते

Thus, having granted the boon to that twice-born brāhmaṇa together with his beloved, Hari—the Lord—vanished from sight; the Deity was seen as though in a dream.

Verse 13

तदा सुमनया युक्तः सोमशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । सुतीर्थे पावने तस्मिन्रेवातीरे सुपुण्यदे

Then Somaśarmā, the best of brāhmaṇas, accompanied by Sumanā, arrived at that excellent tīrtha—pure and sanctifying—on the bank of the Revā, in that exceedingly meritorious region.

Verse 14

अमरकंटके विप्रो दानं पुण्यं करोति सः । गते बहुतरे काले तस्य वै सोमशर्मणः

At Amarakantaka, that brāhmaṇa performed meritorious acts of charity. After a very long time had passed, in the case of that brāhmaṇa Somaśarmā…

Verse 15

कपिलारेवयोः संगे स्नानं कृत्वा स निर्गतः । दृष्टवान्पुरतो विप्रः श्वेतमेकं हि कुंजरम्

After bathing at the confluence of the Kapilā and Revā rivers, he came out; and the brāhmaṇa saw before him a single white elephant.

Verse 16

सुप्रभं सुंदरं दिव्यं सुमदं चारुलक्षणम् । नानाभरणशोभांगं बहुलक्ष्म्या समन्वितम्

Radiant, beautiful, and divine; with gentle, noble pride and lovely marks—its limbs shone with many ornaments, and it was endowed with abundant splendor and prosperity.

Verse 17

सिंदूरैः कुंकुमैस्तस्य कुंभस्थले विराजिते । कर्णनीलोत्पलयुतं पताकादंडसंयुतम्

Its pot-like summit shone, adorned with vermilion and saffron; it was embellished with dark-blue lotus ornaments at the sides and fitted with a flagstaff and banner.

Verse 18

नागोपरिस्थितो दिव्यः पुरुषो दृढसुप्रभः । दिव्यलक्षणसंपन्नः सर्वाभरणभूषितः

A radiant, divine Person stood upon the serpent—firm and brilliantly resplendent—endowed with celestial marks and adorned with every ornament.

Verse 19

दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः । सुसौम्यं सोमवत्पूर्णच्छत्रचामरसंयुतम्

Wearing celestial garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances, he appeared exceedingly gentle—radiant like the full moon—attended by a complete royal canopy and chamara fans.

Verse 20

इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां भूमिखंडे एेंद्रे सुमनो । पाख्याने सुव्रतोत्पत्तिर्नाम विंशोऽध्यायः

Thus, in the revered Padma Purāṇa—within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa of the fifty-five-thousand-verse compendium—within the Aindra section, in the narrative of Sumana, ends the twentieth chapter, titled “Suvrata-utpatti (The Origin of Suvrata).”

Verse 21

सगजं सुंदरं दृष्ट्वा पुरुषं दिव्यलक्षणम् । व्यतर्कयत्सोमशर्मा विस्मयाविष्टमानसः

Seeing that handsome man—accompanied by an elephant and marked with divine characteristics—Somaśarmā began to reflect, his mind overwhelmed with wonder.

Verse 22

कोऽयं प्रयाति दिव्यांगः पंथानं प्राप्य सुव्रतः । एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य यावद्गृहं समाप्तवान्

“Who is this radiant-limbed one, disciplined in holy vows, who sets forth upon the road?” While he pondered thus, the other had already reached his home.

Verse 23

प्रविशंतं गृहद्वारं देवरूपं मनोहरम् । हर्षेण महताविष्टः सोमशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः

As he entered the doorway of the house—divine in appearance and charming—Somaśarmā, the foremost of brāhmaṇas, was overwhelmed with great joy.

Verse 24

स्वगृहं प्रति धर्मात्मा त्वरमाणः प्रयाति च । गृहद्वारं गतो यावत्तावत्तं तु न पश्यति

The righteous man hastens toward his own home; and until he reaches the very door of the house, he does not even see it.

Verse 25

पतितान्येव पुष्पाणि सौहृद्यानि महामतिः । दिव्यानि वासयुक्तानि प्रांगणे द्विजसत्तमः

O best of brāhmaṇas, the great-minded one placed in the courtyard only those flowers that had already fallen—fragrant and choice, imbued with goodwill.

Verse 26

चंदनैः कुंकुमैः पुण्यैः सुगंधैस्तु विलेपितम् । स्वकीयं प्रांगणे दृष्ट्वा दूर्वाक्षतसमन्वितम्

Smeared with sacred sandal paste and auspicious kunkuma, fragrant with perfume—when he saw it in his own courtyard, adorned with dūrvā grass and unbroken rice grains,

Verse 27

स एवं विस्मयाविष्टश्चिंतयानः पुनः पुनः । ददर्श सुमनां प्राज्ञो दिव्यमंगलसंपदम्

Thus, overwhelmed with wonder and reflecting again and again, the wise man, his mind serene, beheld Sumanā, endowed with a divine and auspicious splendor.

Verse 28

सोमशर्मोवाच । केन दत्तानि दिव्यानि एतान्याभरणानि च । शृंगारंरूपसौभाग्यं वस्त्रालंकारभूषणम्

Somaśarman said: “By whom have these divine ornaments been given—these adornments and finery, this beauty and good fortune, these garments, decorations, and jewels?”

Verse 29

तन्मे त्वं कारणं भद्रे कथयस्वाविशंकिता । एवं संभाष्यतां भार्यां विरराम द्विजोत्तमः

“Therefore, O auspicious one, tell me the reason without hesitation.” Having thus spoken with his wife, the excellent brāhmaṇa fell silent.

Verse 30

सुमनोवाच । शृणु कांत समायातः कश्चिद्देववरोत्तमः । श्वेतनागसमारूढो दिव्याभरणभूषितः

Sumana said: “Listen, dear one—there has arrived a certain foremost of the gods, mounted upon a white elephant and adorned with divine ornaments.”

Verse 31

दिव्यगंधानुलिप्तांगो दिव्याश्चर्यसमन्वितः । न जाने को हि देवोसौ विप्रगंधर्वसेवितः

His body was anointed with divine fragrance and endowed with wondrous, celestial qualities. I do not know who that godlike being is, attended upon by brāhmaṇas and gandharvas.

Verse 32

स्तूयमानः समायातो देवगंधर्वचारणैः । योषितः पुण्यरूपाढ्या रूपशृंगारसंयुताः

Praised in song, he arrived accompanied by gods, Gandharvas, and Cāraṇas; and there were women of meritorious and auspicious beauty, endowed with charm and adornment.

Verse 33

सर्वाभरणशोभाढ्याः सर्वाः पूर्णमनोरथाः । ताभिः सह समक्षं मे पुरुषेण महात्मना

Adorned with the splendor of every ornament, all of them had their wishes fulfilled; and together with them, before my very eyes, stood that great-souled Puruṣa.

Verse 34

चतुष्कं पूरितं रत्नैः सर्वशोभासमन्वितम् । तत्राहमासने पुण्ये स्थापिता ब्राह्मणैः किल

A set of four (articles) was filled with gems, endowed with every kind of splendor. There, upon a sacred seat, I was indeed installed by the brāhmaṇas.

Verse 35

वस्त्रालंकारभूषां मे ददुस्ते सर्व एव हि । वेदमंगलगीतैस्तु शास्त्रगीतैश्च पुण्यदैः

All of them indeed bestowed upon me garments, ornaments, and adornments, while auspicious Vedic chants and meritorious hymns from the śāstras were being sung.

Verse 36

अभिषिक्तास्मि तैः सर्वैरंतर्धानं पुनर्गताः । मामेवं परितः सर्वे पुनरूचुर्द्विजोत्तम

I was anointed by them all, and then they again vanished from sight. Thereafter, all of them, standing around me, spoke once more—O best of the twice-born.

Verse 37

तव गेहं वयं सर्वे वसिष्यामः सदैव हि । शुचिर्भव सुकल्याणि भर्त्रा सार्द्धं सदैव हि

We all shall dwell in your home forever indeed. Be pure, O auspicious lady, always together with your husband.

Verse 38

एवमुक्त्वा गताः सर्वे एवं दृष्टं मयैव हि । तया यत्कथितं वृत्तं समाकर्ण्य महामतिः

Having spoken thus, they all departed. Indeed, I myself have seen it so. And the great-minded one, having heard from her the account of what had occurred…

Verse 39

पुनश्चिंतां प्रपन्नोऽसौ किमिदं देवनिर्मितम् । विचिन्तयित्वाथ तदा सोमशर्मा महामतिः

Once again he fell into anxious reflection: “What is this, fashioned by the gods?” Then the great-minded Somaśarmā, having pondered it, at that time…

Verse 40

ब्रह्मकर्मणि संयुक्तः साधर्म्यं धर्ममुत्तमम् । तस्माद्गर्भं महाभागा दधार व्रतशालिनी

United in sacred Brahmanical rites and sharing the highest, harmonious dharma, therefore that most fortunate, vow-observant woman conceived within her womb.

Verse 41

तेन गर्भेण सा देवी अधिकं शुशुभे तदा । संदीप्तपुत्रसंयुक्त तेजोज्वालासमन्विता

With that pregnancy, the Goddess then shone all the more—united with a radiant son, endowed with a blaze of sacred tejas.

Verse 42

सा हि जज्ञे च तपसा तनयं देवसन्निभम् । अंतरिक्षे ततो नेदुर्देवदुंदुभयस्तदा

Through her austerities (tapas), she indeed gave birth to a son who resembled a god. Then, at that moment, divine kettledrums resounded in the sky.

Verse 43

शंखान्दध्मुर्महादेवा गंधर्वा ललितं जगुः । अप्सरसस्तथा सर्वा ननृतुस्तास्तदा किल

Then the great gods blew their conches (śaṅkha); the Gandharvas sang sweetly; and all the Apsarases, it is said, danced at that time.

Verse 44

अथ ब्रह्मासुरैः सार्द्धं समायातो द्विजोत्तमः । चकार नाम तस्यैव सुव्रतेति समाहितः

Then the best of the twice-born (dvija), arriving together with Brahmā and the gods, composedly bestowed upon her the name “Suvratā.”

Verse 45

नाम कृत्वा ततो देवा जग्मुः सर्वे महौजसः । गतेषु तेषु देवेषु सोमशर्मासु तस्य च

After bestowing the name, all those mighty deities departed. When those gods had gone, Somaśarmā too then proceeded, and so did his companion.

Verse 46

जातकर्मादिकं कर्म चकार द्विजसत्तमः । जाते पुत्रे महाभागे सुव्रते देवनिर्मिते

When the greatly fortunate son was born—virtuous, as though fashioned by the devas—the foremost of the twice-born performed the birth rites, beginning with the jātakarma and the other prescribed ceremonies.

Verse 47

तस्य गेहे महालक्ष्मीर्धनधान्यसमाकुला । गजाश्वमहिषी गावः कांचनं रत्नमेव च

In his household, great Lakṣmī abounds—filled with wealth and grain; there are elephants, horses, buffaloes, cows, and also gold and jewels.

Verse 48

यथा कुबेरभवनं शुशुभे धनसंचयैः । तत्सोमशर्मणो गेहं तथैव परिराजते

Just as Kubera’s mansion shone splendidly with its heaps of wealth, so too does Somaśarman’s house likewise gleam with brilliance.

Verse 49

ध्यानपुण्यादिकं कर्म चका रद्विजसत्तमः । तीर्थयात्रां गतो विप्रो नानापुण्यसमाकुलः

That best of the twice-born performed meritorious acts such as meditation; and the brāhmaṇa set out on pilgrimage to the tīrthas, abounding in many kinds of religious merit.

Verse 50

अन्यानि यानि पुण्यानि दानानि द्विजसत्तमः । चकार तत्र मेधावी ज्ञानपुण्य समन्वितः

And whatever other meritorious gifts there were, that best of the twice-born performed them there—wise and endowed with the virtue born of spiritual knowledge.

Verse 51

एवं साधयते धर्मं पालयेच्च पुनःपुनः । पुत्रस्य जातकर्मादि कर्माणि द्विजसत्तमः

Thus the best among the twice-born should accomplish and uphold dharma again and again, and for his son he should perform the rites beginning with the birth-ceremony (jātakarma) and the rest.

Verse 52

विवाहं कारयामास हर्षेण महता किल । पुत्रस्य पुत्राः संजाताः सगुणा लक्षणान्विताः

Indeed, he arranged the marriage with great joy. In due course, his son’s sons were born—virtuous and endowed with auspicious marks.

Verse 53

सत्यधर्मतपोपेता दानधर्मरताः सदा । स तेषां पुण्यकर्माणि सोमशर्मा चकार ह

Endowed with truthfulness, righteousness, and austerity, and ever devoted to the duty of charity, Somaśarmā performed those meritorious rites and deeds for them.

Verse 54

पौत्राणां तु महाभागस्तेषां सुखेन मोदते । सर्वं सौख्यं च संभुज्य जरारोगविवर्जितः

That highly fortunate man rejoices happily in the company of his grandsons; enjoying every comfort, he remains free from old age and disease.

Verse 55

पंचविंशाब्दिको यद्वत्तद्वत्कायं तु तस्य हि । सूर्यतेजः प्रतीकाशः सोमशर्मा महामतिः

Just as he was twenty-five years of age, so too was his body. The great-souled Somaśarmā, of lofty intellect, shone with a radiance like the sun’s brilliance.

Verse 56

सा चापि शुशुभे देवी सुमना पुण्यमंगलैः । पुत्रपौत्रैर्महाभागा दानव्रतैश्च संयमैः

That blessed goddess Sumanā too shone with auspicious, meritorious celebrations—graced by sons and grandsons, and by her great good fortune expressed through charity, vows, and disciplined self-restraint.

Verse 57

अतिभाति विशालाक्षी पुण्यैः पतिव्रतादिभिः । तारुण्येन समायुक्ता यथा षोडशवार्षिकी

The large-eyed lady shines exceedingly through merits such as wifely fidelity and other virtues; endowed with youthful charm, she appears like a sixteen-year-old girl.

Verse 58

मोदमानौ महात्मानौ दंपती चारुमंगलौ । हर्षेण च समायुक्तौ पुण्यात्मानौ महोदयौ

The noble couple, auspicious and pleasing in their blessedness, rejoiced greatly—filled with delight and happiness, virtuous in soul, and rising to great prosperity.

Verse 59

एवं तयोस्तु वृत्तांतं पुण्याचारसमन्वितम् । सुव्रतस्य प्रवक्ष्यामि व्रतचर्यां द्विजोत्तमाः

Thus, having related the account of those two, endowed with righteous conduct, I shall now describe the observance and discipline of the vow called Suvrata, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 60

यथा तेन समाराध्य नारायणमनामयम्

Thus, by duly worshipping that flawless Nārāyaṇa,